The Sleeping Lion, Episode 1, Part 2

"FFVIII x Mobius FF If I want to go back, I have to remember... Remember who I am, and where this is. But for now - who is this warrior the rune is showing me?"

- In-game description

The Sleeping Lion Episode 1, Part 2 is the second story chapter for the Final Fantasy VIII Collaboration Event. It features Wol investigating the effects of the Sorceress from Final Fantasy VIII on Palamecia.

Event Details

 * Event type: Collaboration story region.
 * First appearance: August 8 - November 1, 2019 November 15, 2019.
 * The game service suffered a large-scale network outage in October 2019, preventing many players from logging into the game at all. In compensation, the event was extended an extra two weeks.


 * Second appearance: March 27 - June 30, 2020 (end of service)

How to Participate

 * Select "FFVIII: The Sleeping Lion Episode 1, Part 2" from the Act 2 world map -- its own red spot.

Gameplay
Play in this region uses the Draw System. You can draw extra abilities out of your enemies, and use those abilities against them! Most spells are relatively common, but some are rare and quite powerful. See the separate page for details.

As you progress through the story, you'll gradually increase your SeeD Rank. Each rank increase comes with a "stipend": a set of extra rewards. Your current SeeD Rank is shown by an icon in the top corner of your map screen.
 * The maximum SeeD Rank for this region is 12, which you can earn by completing the map.

''You cannot use a Sophie or Graff job. All other jobs are open, including Ultimate Heroes.''

Story
Continued from Episode 1, Part 1

Squall takes an offer from this blue-clothed faerie: he can go home, but he has to remember. She offers him a rune, and he stares into it...

Wol is walking through Palamecia, and notes that things feel off. Echo notes he should know, and recommends he find the problem and destroy it! Now knowing what Echo is up to, Wol continues up his path, pledged to do things his own way. Sarah soon catches up to him, telling him the fiends are getting more active. Meia soon joins, observing that there's a magic energy out there she's never encountered before. The three decide to find the source before the fiends get too difficult.

Upon reaching the hills, the locals are complaining about the cold as much as the fiends. Suddenly, a strange wave washes over the land... and now there's deep snow! How is that possible? It's the Sorceress's doing, obviously. Better get up the mountain and see what's going on.

Along the climb, Sarah calls Wol "Brother", and refers to herself as a Princess. She shouldn't remember both. Something out there is having an effect on Sarah...

At the top of the mountain they find a Cockatrice, but it's more powerful than any Cockatrice they've ever met! One hit nearly kills everyone. That's not going to work. Meia suggests it may be drawing power from the mountain itself, and they agree to break those links first. A trip around the mountain -- and several kills later -- the Cockatrice's special abilities are gone, and the team make short work of it. But the snow continues on.

Wol also gets a strange feeling that someone is watching him... (like, maybe, Squall through the rune???)

Returning to the town, the group find the cold is gone, only to be replaced by heat. The locals suggest that Wol check out the ruins. What ruins? *Time Compression* Oh, THOSE ruins.

But first, they have to deal with the trackless desert that has suddenly appeared. sigh. After much wandering, they find an old foe hiding in an oasis -- an old foe who says he has been waiting for millenia for Wol and his band to show up! No matter. They beat him down, like always. Odd things to say, though.

The blue echo pops up again, smug at having proven things are strange out there. Wol gives in -- partly to help Sarah, partly to stop the strangeness in the world... and partly just to quiet this Echo. Sorceress Hunting we go!

Back at the town again, another local points the heroes toward a mysterious, foreboding cave. Hey, we're all about foreboding!

On the way, they have a run-in with a UFO, and watch it abduct... a Buffalo. Very odd.

Continued in Episode 2, Part 1

Event Map
"Final Fantasy VIII: The Sleeping Lion Episode 1, Part 2: Palamecia The SeeD slowly begins to grow, guided along his path by a wayward faerie. As he continues to dream, he finds friends and allies in unexpected places."

- World Map description

There are 41 areas in total, with 8 treasure chests.

The Rising Heat
''The boss (and his friend) will show up on the last area you visit in this section. You must clear all of the areas before they will appear.''
 * Reward: SeeD Rank 10 x600,000

The Foreboding Cave
Completing this point earns you the Title "Wandering SeeD".

Post-completion
After finishing the storyline, Eath the townsman has more troubles. He's seen the PuPu and their UFOs... and wants proof of their existence. Okay, we'll go hunt them down.

The last challenge features a Chocobo Journey! Battle against STRONG versions of the: A Chocobo helps you as you go, and casts some serious damage in its own right. This battle is entirely optional, but it does gain you the Title "Companion to Chocobos".
 * Takshaka
 * Giant Water Flan
 * Iron Giant
 * Zalera (Sicarius)

Key Items

 * -- increases as the story progresses.
 * - removes the Cockatrice's Supreme Bulwark effect.
 * - removes the Cockatrice's Enhance Ultimate effect.
 * - removes the Cockatrice's Draw Guard effect.

Special Fiends

 * Ogre
 * Great Malboro
 * Cockatrice the unbeatable!
 * Ultros
 * Catoblepas
 * Ultimate PuPu
 * Zalera (Sicarius)

Reference

 * Mobius News page
 * Cinematics from BuffMaister on YouTube

Trivia

 * Music is from the Final Fantasy VIII Soundtrack.